Apparatus for controlling elevators



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H5 Sheets-Sheet 5 w'uenlfo' G O N (Jl M430 OOO 00 0G Patented Apr. 19,'1927. l 'I g UNITED STATESv yPATENT OFFICE- I FRANK n iioARnMAN, orMEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, AssicNoR oE-oNE-HALE To PLEAS-V ANT r. WILLIAMS, orMEMriirs, TENNESSEE. v

APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING ELEVATOBS.

Application led April 15, 1922. Serial No. 553,025.

This invention relates to an apparatus for regulating the trips ofelevators relatively to each other, when there are a largey number ofelevators'to be controlled, and has for its object to provide a meanswhichv will be simple in construction and more efficient. in

' action than those heretofore proposed.

With these and other-objects in view,the`

invention consists in the novel partsand combinations of partsconstitutingl the apparatus, all as will be more fully hereinafterdisclosed and particularly -pointed out in the claims.'

'Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of thisspecification, in which like numerals designate lil're parts in all theviews: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan View of a port-ion of :inapparatus made in accordance with this invention; l

Figure 2 is a side elevational View of the parts shown in Figure-1;

AFigure 3 is an end elevational view of the parts shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken-en the line 4-4 of Figure 1, lookingin the direc-.

tion of the arrows;A

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional vieufof a portion of the parts shownin thelower left hand; corner of Figure 1 Figure 6 is a plan view o i afiber plate of the schedule carriage;

Figure T is a plan -viewfot the contacts 21 and 40;

Figure 8 is a Side lelevational view of the vertical yplate of theschedule carriage which rides over the rods 18 and 19;

Figure 9 is a view of the supporting plate 15 which supports thecylinders 11 and 11 and their feo-acting parts;

Figure 1() is a sectioihl view through the box` in which thefjacks arelocated;

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic view illusf` trati'ng the circuits involvedinthisl appara- Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 1,

but showing diagrammatically -at its left hand end tlie arrangements ofthe signals on the cars themselves.

In order that the invention may moreclearly understood it is said:

Asis well known7 -ivhen a building is equipped with a. plurality ofelevators, it is very desirablcto regulate with convenience and celeritythe schedules of the ,elevators on each car.

be the ,troni signals which are displayed automatically at a station Inthis invention, there is disclosedw timing mechanisms designed tocontrol the up and down trips of from one to lnine elevators, and eachcomprises a` schedule carriage which can be set for a given number ofelevators to be run on the particular time` intervalstliat are selected.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1 and 4,-1 vindicates a motormounted on a base 2; 3 indicates the shaft of said motor;

4 a vcoupling joining the shaft 3 with the shaft 5 ofla Worm gearlocated in the housing 6 fr oriiwhi'ch leads a shaft 7 carrying alfriction disk 8 adapted to engage and rotate thedislr [9 mounted on theshaft 10 supporting jtliemetal cylinder 11 carrying the liber .60 inthebuilding and alsoj insulating' cylinder 12, through which pro- ,jectfthemetal conducting pins 13, all as Will be clear from the drawings. -15and lindi 'cate supporting' or bearing plates located near the ends ot'shaft l0, Which in turn are secured to the bottom plate 17 on which theentire apparatus located at the operating station rests. 18 and 19, bestshown in Figure 4, are a pair of guide rods supported in;

the plates 15 and 16 on which rods slides the schedule or contactcarriage 20 providedk with the tivo sets ot' contacts 21 and 22. As thecontactor schedule carriage 20 is slid along the rods 18 and 19 fromleft to right as seen in Figure its set of nine contacts 21 will slideover thevarious contacts 26. These said contacts 26 are'divided intogroups or schedules, as shown, and each group contains a contactcorresponding to an elevator that is to be controlled by the carriage-2Owhen operated on a particular schedule. That is, schedule 1, aslindicated in Figures 1 and 11, applies to only a single elevator, and

has only one contact for each of the up and down trips. Schedule 2applies to tivo elevators,` and therefore has two up contacts and tWodown contacts. 'Schedule 3 applies to three elevators and has three upcontacts and three down contacts, etc. It is to be understood that afterthe particular schedule is selected, or thc number of cars to beoperlated lis determined', the carriage 20 is slid manually along theguide rods 18 and 19 to that particular schedule.. The `carriage 1s thusleft in this position until such time as a new schedule is to beselected. The Various contacts for the up trip are lettered 26, and aresupported as best shown in Figure 4 by the plate 24 carried by theflanged, plate 25. From the various contacts 26 leads the wire 33. Inthe same Way, the down contacts for each schedule are collectivelynumbered 27, they are carried by the plate 28 supported on the flangedplate 29 and from said contacts 27 leads the wire 32.

lt will therefore be clear that as the car: riage 20 is slid along therods 18 and 20 from left to right, as seen in Figures l and 12, the 4upcontacts 21 of said carriage tvill make electrical connection with thevarious contacts 26 carried bythe plate 24, while the down contacts 22of said carriage will make electrical connection with the down contacts27 carried by the plate' 28, but as there are nine each of the contacts21 and 22, all of saidcontacts 21 and` 22 will not make velectricalconnections except in the last schedule containing nine contacts 26' andnine contacts 27.

It will further be seen that the contacts 13 carried by the metalcylinder 11 are spirally disposed and increase in number from the lefthand of Figurel to the right thereof, andthey further increase inproportion to the number of elevators or signals it is required tooperatein each. schedule.v Further, the shaft is slottedas 'at 29',Figure 1, in order that itmay slide relatively to the cylinder 11 and itis provided with the screw adjusting means by which it may move the disk9 toward and from the shaft 7 and thus decrease or increase thespeed atwhich the disk 8 drives said cylinder 11 and contacts 13. By thisdisposition vof parts one is enabled to change the intervals between theup and down signals by changing the speed with Which the contacts 13make circuit with the sets of contacts 21 and 22 on the carriage 20.'

Referring more particularly to Figures 11 and 12, the -nine pairs ofWires 7 Oland 71 in* dicate connections respectiif'ely to up and' do`wnsignals that are located at the operating stat-ion.l That is, the nine'wires 70 con- Vey current to nine White lamps 34, one .corresponding.to each car -and which White lamps are lit whenthe'cars ofthatparticu-` lar schedule are`to leave the bottom floor on their upwardtrips. The nine Wires 71 like- Wise convey current to nine red lamps 60,one for each car, and which indicate when carsv of each schedule are tobeginthcir downward trips. 0n each car there is like- Wise a White light79 and a red light .36 corresponding to the White lights 34 and red Ylights 60 just described, all as will appear more fully hereinafter.

are indicated at 35 and 36 and the connecf tions for the red lamps areindicated at 37 and 38.

Each of the contacts in the set of contacts 21-carrirs a contactO, seeFigures 1 and 4, which is adapted to make circuit with one of thecontacts 13 for the up trip and Aeach of the contacts in theset ofcontacts 22 carries a contact Ll1, adapted to make circuit With itsappropriate contact 13 Ifor the down trip.

Referring now more particularly to higures 1, 11 and l2, current may bederived Afrom a service connection 61, whence it passes over the wire 62through the switch 63 to the wire 64, to the metal cylinders 11 andcontacts 13. If the up trip is being had, the current will pass from thecontacts 13 to the contacts 40 of the set of contacts 21, and from saidcontacts 21 to the contacts 26 of the appropriate 'schedule riage 20 hasbeen set. 1

In Figure 1 there is only one contact 26 in the schedule selected, andtherefore current will pass from th' Contact 26 of said fschedule 1 tothe Wire 33. From the Wire 33 soA Afor which the car;M z

the current will pass bv way of the -ivire 50 lto the jack 45,throiighisaid jack and to the .vt-iverposition. In the same way, thejack 45 being pushed in as indicated in Figure 1,

current will pass from the contact 13 of schedule 1 on the down tripthrough the appropriate contact 41 carried by the group of contacts 22,through the appropriate individual contact 22 to the particular contact27 of schedule 1, to the Wire 32. from the wire 32 to the Wire 51,through the jack 45 to the Wire T 1, from the Wire 71 through thecontacts 37, and 38, through the lamp .60, and from said lamp to thewire- 63. thence along said wire 68, to the wire 66, and originalsourceof curient 67. Thus will the red light 60 corresponding to the firstschedule and to'jiick 45 he lit when the car of schedule 1 hcgiiis itsdown trip.

.As will be obvious from the description just given, should the carriage20 be moved toward the right as shown in Figure 1, to enteranotherschedule, such as schedule 2. a like operation of parts and alike flow of current will take place upon the placing of the plugs injacks 45 and 46. Should more vcars be required in service, such forexample as four cars, the carriage 20 would be moved further to theright luntil the con- CTI vthe kcar controlled by said jack.

station.

upon a like liow of current will take place upon the placing ofv theplugs in the four jacks 45, 46, 47 and 48.

In other Words, all the operator has to do when he is operatinganydesired number of cars is to place plugs in the correspond- 'ing jacks,it being understood, of course,

that for each car? there is a corresponding jack. When the necessaryjack connections are made, then the White and red lamps will be flashedat the proper time intervals, by the rotation of the contact cylinder12, to indicate the proper tinie of starting each individual car uponits up or down trip.

Now, it is also desirable, as'aboveistated, to lightl a White light oneach car itself when. its up trip is to begin and a red light on eachcar when its down trip is to begin,

in order that the operator of each car may know when to start his up anddown trips.

To accomplish this result, there is located, say, half way up theelevator shaft, a terminal plate 7 5, which is diagrammaticallyillustrated at the left hand end of Figure 12, This terminal plateisprovided with threezcontacts for each car, which contacts are lettered76, 77, and 78, all as will now bedisclosed Further, there is providedon ingfrom the said terminalplate Contact 78 is thewire 85 which joinswith the tei minal 36 of the Wliitevlamp at the operating In the sameWay, the Wire 7lof each jack at the point 86 is connected With a Wire 87which leads to the contact 77 on the terminal plate yfor the carcontrolled v by said jack, and there is a flexiblewire or cable 88connecting vthe terminal 77 for each car with the kred lamp carried bythe car, and said lamp 80 is connected as' l indicated with the flexiblecable 85, the return stationaryvcontact 78, and return Wire e which inits turn is connected with the common return Wire 65 of the White lamps`34 located at the .stationary operatingsta tion. l

Of course, it Will be understood, as above intimated,that similarconnections are made l'or each of the White lamps 79 on the cars, andforeach of the red lamps 8()v carried by the cars, and that said similarconnections are joined to the respective controlling jacks such as 46,47, 48, etc.

lt has been shown that when a plurality station.

of elevators, such for example as four cars, are desired in service thecarriage 20 is slid overA to the four car schedule position and thefirst four jack plugs 45, 46, 47' and 48 placed in operative position`Thereupon, as the cylinderlQ revolves the contact points carried therebywill malte momentary contact Withthe appropriate contacts carried by thecarriage 20 and establish the liow ot current necessary to ilash thelamps 34 and 6() at the operating station." lt therefore follows thatwhen this flow ot current takes place, the points corresponding to thepoint. 8l in Figure l2 will feed current through the contact 76 ontheterminal plate 75 through' the exiblc cable 83 of the particular `cangoverned, through the white lamp 79 on the said car, and by theconnections 84, 85, 78 and 85 back to the source of current, thuslighting the White lamp 7 9 on the car simultaneously with the lightingof the white lamp 34 at the operating station.-

In similar manner will the red lamp on each car be flashedsimultaneously with the corresponding Ired lamp at the operatingV'lhatis to say, the current necessary to iiash the red lainp 60 Willdivide at ,one of the points 86, see `Figure l2, passing over the Wire87 to contact point 7 7 on the terminal plate 75, through the` flexibleconductor 88, through the red lamp 801,011 the car and return throughthe connections 85, 78 and 85 to the source of current. In other Words,the lamps in each car are connected'in parallel .circuit with theircorrespending lamps theH operating station.

y From the foregoing, it will now be understood that the time ot a haltlrevolution ot' the cylinder 11 will measure the time each elevator ineach schedule is to take in {malring an up trip or a down trip. That isto" say', if' the screw `80-is operated to adjust the disk 9, the speedwith which thecylinder l0 rotates will be changed, and Itherefore theintervals allotted `to each elevator to make an up or a down trip may bereadily changed.

When it is desired to operate tivo cars on a schedule, the carriage 20is slid over to thetwocar schedule and botlrthe jacks 45 and 46 broughtinto operative position, whereuponthe Wires 50 and 52 will be controlledon the up trip and the Wires 5l and 53 Will be controlled on thedown'trip. all as indicated above. Then itis desired to-opcrate threeelevators the'carriage 20 is slid over to Aschedule number 3, and jacksnumbered 45, 46 and 47 Will be brought into place, whereupon' the wires'50, 52,` and 54 will. be controlled (inthe-up trip and tliewires 5l,

liu

53 and 'wi'll be controlled on the doivn trip.

From kthe foregoing it is evident that the 4scheduler carriage 2O andits co-acting parts may beduplicated, and in the upper portions ofFigures l and 12, and on the right hand side of Figure l, I haveindicated such a duplication.` That is to say, ythe shaft 7 has beenextended to provide the shalt 7'; the disk 8 has been duplicated in thedisk 8'; the disk 9 has been duplicated in the disk 9'; the cylinder 11has been duplicated in the cylinder ll'; and each of the co-acting partsdescribed above have been duplicated with a corresponding number,primed.

The result is, it we should carry out the completed wiring (which is notdone in order to save confusion in the drawings), we would (join up asecond operating` carriage 20' in multiple with the operating carriage20, and we would have a duplicate of the mechanism just described in allits parts. Now, suppose such a duplicate schedule controlling apparatusbeprovided, it evident that we could, by properly placing `the jacks d5,4G, and sli', etc., run allnine elevators associated with the cylinderll, l'is-local,` elevators, and we could run nine otherele-A vatorsassociated with cylinder 11' as express elevators. Or, one could, in atwenty story building, for example, run live elevators to the tenthfloor in connection with cylinder 11, and say,.four elevators to the20th floor with the aid Aof cylinder 11'. Or various other combinationset elevators could be readily provided.

In fact, it would be avsimple matter to provide five express and velocal elevators wherein every other car would operate as an express carand every other car would operate as a. local ear. That is to say, carshaving odd nulnbers could be connected up to operate as express cars,andcars having even numbers could be operated as local cars.

Or, if this system were operating in a building, say, 15 stories high,andone wished a set otl elevators that operated to the fifth floor only,and another set that operated to the tenth lioor only, and a third setto the 15th floor only, it would only be necessary to have three sets ofjacks and three sets Oli cylinders such as 11 and 11' with theircooperating parts, all ot which ,would be a simple matter by extendingthe device as indicated in Figure 1.

Another advantage of this system resides in the fact that should one beoperating say live cars. only, of a bank of more than live elevators and`should anything happen'to one of said live cars, such as car No. 3,this particular car could be switched out of the schedule and one of theidle cars be switched into said schedule without inter- 'iering with theoperatiolroii' the other four4 course, any one of the idle cars could beutilized in place oi the disabled carvby the above substitution of theeontrollingplu'g In Figure (i I have illustrated a convenient torni o'tfibeipl'.ite 90 provided with holes 91 lor securing the contact strips21 and 40 illustrated in Figure 7` and with which the schedule carriage`is provided.

In Figure 8 I have illustrated the form of strip 92 best suited tosupport the schedule carriage andI to ride over the rods 18 and 19.

In Figure 9 I have shown an elevational view of the supporting plate 15which supports one end of the cylinders 11- and 11', and which isprovided with the holes 93 for therods 18 and 19 and with similar holes9% for the similar rods that-are provided for the similarrods 18 and 19.

-In Figure l0 I have indicated a box 95 adapted to support the Contactmembers 96 of the jacks.

It will now be clear that the" foregoing construction constitutes anelevator control for a plurality of ears; that the sliding schedulecarriage E20 and its coacting parts including the sets otcontacts 26,2T, etc.,

constitute means to automatically make sig! nals o 't' predetermined`intervals* on each of said ears; that the period of time bet-Ween No. 2aiid car No. fl, and, as live oars are still being operated, it willnotbe necessaryyto change the position of the carriage 20. Ot.

the intervals may be controlled by the speed of rotation of the cylinderllg'and that this speed may be varied at will by an attendant. It willalso be clear that when it is desired to include one or moreadditionalcars in the groupto be controlled, it is only necessary whilethe other cars are running and while` the car controlling means is stilloperating, to slide the carriage 2O along the cylinder 11 until itscontact lingers 2l and Q2 make circuit with that particular set or groupot stationary contacts 26, v27,` etc.,

which will include the desired cars in their circuits. Ar movement ofsaid carriage 20 in the opposite direction Will, of course, cut out oneor more cars from the group being controlled.

It is obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the details ofconstruction as well as the arrangement of parts without departing fromthe spirit of the invention and` therefore I do not Wish to be limitedto the above disclosure except as may be requiredby the claims.

What'I claim is:

` 1. An elevator signaling system for cone trollinga plurality otelevators in accordance withl a plurality of 4predeterminedschedulescomprising a-plurality o't signals,

a circuit for each signal, meansfor energiai ing said signal circuitsincluding movable contact means having a plurality of groups ofcontacts, one group for each schedule and the number of contacts in eachgroup differing from the number of contacts in any other group, thecontacts of each group being spaced in the direction of motion of saidmovable contact means; time controlled means for moving said movablecontact! means, stationary7 contact means comprising a contact for eachof said signals and means movable relatively to said movable contact;

means for connecting the contacts ot any one of said groups of contactsin circuit ivith selected contacts of said stationary contact meanscorresponding .to the selected number of cars 'to be controlled. f

2. An elevator control-systeml for con trolling a plurality of elevatorsin accordance with a plurality lot predetermined schedules, comprising aplurality of signals,

a circuit for each signal, a movable contact maker and breaker with aplurality of cont'actsA carried thereby grouped into independent groups,each group havinga dit-` ferent number of' contacts from'the othergroups with the contacts ofa group stepped in the direction of motion-of the ymovable contact maker and breaker, time controlled means formoving said movable contact maker and breaker, a plurality of normallystationary contacts to which said signal circuits connect, and meansmovable relatively to the time controlled contact maker and breakerwhich when properly located will bring into cooperative relation onlythe contacts belonging to a predetermined group as the time controlcontact maker and breaker moves to successively close the circuits tothe signals of the predetermined group.

. 3. An elevator signaling system 'for controlling a plurality otelevators in accordance with a plurality ot schedules compris- `ing asignal foreach car, a circuit for each signal, means for energizing saidsignal circuits includ-ing movable contact means having a plurality ofgroups of contacts, the number ot ycontacts in each group differing fromthe number of contacts in any other group, the contacts of each groupspaced in they direction of motion of said movable contact means, timecontrolled means for4 moving said movable contact means, stationarycontact. means comprising a contact for each of said signals, meansmovable relatively to said movable Contact means for connecting thecontacts of any one of said :groups ot'contacts in circuitivitlrsclected i contacts ot said stationary contact means"corresponding .to the selected number of cars to be controlled, andmeans for selectively connecting any of' said signal. circuits to saidselected contacts.

4. In an elevator signaling system for contrpllin'g aI pluralityotelevators in accordance With a plurality of predetermined schedfulescomprising an up and a doivn signal on each cai' and correspondingstationary up and doivn signals, a circuit for each signal, means forenergizing)4 said signal circ-nits, including movable contact meanshaving a plurality oit groups of contacts, one group for each scheduleand the numberl 'ot' contacts in each group diifering from the number ofcontacts in any other grpup, the contacts oit each 4'group being spacedin the direction ot' motion ot said movable contact fmeans, timecontrolled means for lmoving said movable contact means, stationarycontact means com prising a contact for cach of said signals,

and means movable relatively to said .movable contact'means forconnecting the contactsot any one of vsaid groups of contacts incircuit'vvith selected contacts of said sta tionarycontact meanscorresponding to the selected number of cars to be controlled.

y 5. Annelevator control system vto control the schedule of a pluralityot cars in accordance4 with s. av plurality of predeterminedschedules'comprising a signal for each car, a

normally stationary-*contacts to which said signal circuits connect, andmeans movable relatively to said movable contact means Jfor connectingthe contacts of any one of said groups yo't'contacts in circuit withselected contacts of said stationary contact means corresponding to theselected number of cars tobe controlled.

6. An elevator control system for a plural ity of cars comprising aplurality of signals,

circiiit'tor each signal with make and break devices therein includingtivo contact carriers, one contact carrier being movablein one directionwith reference to the other. carrier, time controlled means for somoving said carrier, one carrier carrying a plurality of indepenclent\,groups ofcontacts-fvvith a dif ferent number of contacts in eachgroup, lthe contacts onisaid. last mentioned carrier beingfl spaced inthe direction of the time vcontrolled movement in accordance with theschedule desired, the other contact carrier carrying av set of normallystationary contacts and one contact carrier being movable in a directionother than the ktime controlled movement of the other carrier to bringits contacts into cooperation with any selected one of the "groups ofcontacts of the othercontact carrier whereby the number of signals to beop! erated by any group and the time period between their respectiveoperations is determined by the relativelocation of one carrier to theother.

7. In an elevator signaling system for controlling a plurality ofelevators in accordance With a plurality of schedules comprising asignal for each car;a circuit for each signal, means for ener lzing saidsignal circuits' including movab e contact means having a lurality ofgroups of contacts the number oi) contacts in eachgroup differing fromthe number of contacts in any orner group, the contacts of each groupspaced in the 4direction-oij' motion of said movable contact means;stationary contact means comprising a contact for each of said signals,means movable relatively to said movable contact means for connectingthe contacts of any one osaid groups of contacts in circuit withselected contacts of said stationary contact means corresponding to theselected number of cars to be controlled; and means for selectivelyconnecting any of said signal circuits to said selected contacts whilesaid signals are being made.

8. An elevator signaling system for controllingl a plurality ofelevators .in accordance Witha lurality of schedules compris ing asignal or each car; a circuit for each signal; means for energizingsaidsignal circuits including movable contact means having a plurality ofgroups of contacts, the number of contacts in each group differing vfromthe number of contacts in any other group, the contacts of each groupspaced in thedirection of motion of said movable contact means; timecontrolled means'for moving said movable contact means; stationareontact means comprising a contact for eac 1 Y of said signals; meansmovable relatively to said movable contact means forl connecting thecontacts of any one of said groups of con' tacts in circuit withselected contacts of said stationary contact means corresponding to theselected number of cars to be controlled;

and means comprising a plug and jack connection for selectivelyconnecting any of said signal circuits to said selected contacts.

9. An elevator signaling system for controlling a plurality of elevatorsin accordance with a plurality of schedules comprisinga signal for eachcar; a circuit for each signal; means for ener izing .said signal `circuits including :nova le contact means' having a plurality of groups ofcontacts, the number of contacts 1n each group differing from the numberof contacts in any other group, the contacts of each group spaced in thedirection of motion o said movable contact means; time control ed meansfor moving said.movable contact means; stationary contact meanscomprising a contact foreach of said si'nals; means movablerelatively'to said-Inova le contact means for connecting the contacts ofany 'one of said groups of contacts in circuit with selected contacts ofsaid stationary contact means corresponding to the selected number ofcars to be controlled; andinterchangeable means for selectivelyconnecting any of said signal circuits to said selected contacts.

10. An elevator signaling system lfor con;

trolling'a plurality of elevators in accordance with a plurality ofpredetermined schedules comprising a plurality of signals; a circuit foreach signal; means for energizing said signal circuits including .a timecontrolled contact carrier having a plurality of groups of contacts,each group having a v di'iierent number of contacts therein toprovide'said schedules, a pluralitycf groups of stationary contactscorresponding to the groups of time controlled carrier contacts; and asecond carrier carrying a plurality of normally stationary contacts, butmovable toV various positions relatively to the time controlled contactcarrier and said stationary contacts to bring its contacts intocooperative relation with any one of the oups of contacts on the timecontrolled carrier and its corresponding group of stationary contacts.'V

11. An elevator control system. for controlling a plurality of elevatorsin accordance with a plurality of schedules, comprising a plurality ofsignals;

'a circuit for each signal; a movable contact maker and breakercomprising a drum with a plurality of contacts, carried thereby groupedinto independent groups, each group having a different number ofcontacts from the other groups with the contacts of a group stepped inthe direction of motion of the movable contact maker and breaker; timecontrolled means for moving said movable contact maker and breaker;.a.plurality of normally stationary contacts to which said redetermined Asiofnal circuits connect; and means movable trically connected contactscarried thereby grouped into`independent groups, each group having adifferent number of contacts from the other groups with the contacts ofa group stepped in tlie direction ot motionl of the movable contactmaker and breaker; time controlled means for movingvsaid movable contactmaker and breaker; a plurality of normally stationary contacts to whichsaid signal circuits connect; and means movable relatively to the timecontrolled contact maker Y elevators, a plurality ofl cars, a signal forand breaker which when properly located will bring into cooperativerelation only the n contacts belonging to a predetermined group as tlietime control contact maker and breakermoves to successively close thecircuits to the signals of tlie predetermined group.

13. In a despatcliing system for a bank of elevators, a plurality ofcars, a' signal for each car, a circuit for each signal and means forsuccessively closing the circuits to any selected number of said cars inany selected order at predetermined equal time intervals. 14. In adespatching system for a bank of elevators, a plurality of cars, asignal for each ear, a circuit for each signal, and means forsuccessively closing the circuits to any selected number of said cars inany selected order at predetermined equal time intervals, including tworelatively movable members, one of said members carrying a plurality ofgroupsot contacts, each group comprising a dierent number o't contacts,tlie contacts of eacli group being spaced in tlie direction ot ltbemovement between said members, and

time controlled means for causing relative movement between saidmembers.

15. .In a despatclnng system fora bank of each car, a circuit for eachsignal, and means Jfor successively closing the circuits to any selectednumber ,of said cars at predetermined equal time intervals including tworelatively movable members, one of said members carrying a plurality ofgroups of contacts, eacli group comprising a dierent. number ofcontactspand the contacts of each group being-spaced in the direction ofthe movement between said members, and time controlled means for causingrelative movement between said members.

In testimony 'whereof I aiiix my signature.v

FRANK isoanniimn;

